JP2723367B2 - Communication network equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication network for executing access between a network dedicated to FA (Factory Automation) equipment using a dedicated protocol by a specific vendor and a MAP (Manufacturing Automation Protocol) network which is an international standard communication protocol. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 shows a PLC (Pr) as an example of an FA device.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional MAP communication network device using an grammable logic controller). In the figure, 1b is a variable V, 2b is a MAP communication program B acting as a client requesting a service, 3 is a host computer executing a client program, 7
Is a VMD (Virtual Manufacture) that operates as a pseudo FA device when executing MAP communication from a client process.
acturing Device: virtual production machine), 8 is a PLC driver that accesses the PLC, 9 is a PLC attached to the PLC
MAP interface unit for connecting the MAP network to the MAP network, 10b a computer interface that cannot directly access the PLC dedicated network, 11 a PLC master station mounted on the MAP interface unit 9 and connected to the MAP network, 12 a PLC master station
, A variable V in the PLC, 14 a PLC local station i in the PLC dedicated network, 15 a PLC local station n in the PLC dedicated network, and 16 a PL
The C dedicated network 17 is an application for connecting the computer interface 10b and the PLC dedicated network interface 12 in the PLC master station 11.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned conventional MAP communication network device will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the MAP communication program B2b of the host computer 3 is started (Step S41). Second, MAP
The communication program B2b specifies the PLC local station i14, and instructs the VMD 7 of the MAP interface unit 9 of the PLC master station 11 to read the variable V13 therein (step S42). Thirdly, VMD7 is PLC
The station number “i” and the variable name “V” of the PLC network are transferred to the PLC master station 11 via the driver 8 (step S43). Fourth, the application 17 of the PLC master station 11 converts the value of the variable V13 of the designated station number i into the PLC
The data is read out via the dedicated network interface 12 and transferred to the MAP interface unit 9 (step S44). Fifth, the VMD 7 of the MAP interface unit 9 transfers the value transferred from the PLC driver 8 to the host computer 3 as the variable V13 of the PLC local station i14 (Step S45).

[0004]

Since the conventional MAP communication network apparatus has the above configuration, the MAP communication program of the host computer can directly access the master station or the local station of the PLC network. However, by always accessing the master station and specifying the station number of the PLC network, it is necessary to indirectly access the local station by the application of the master station. Therefore, the PLC master station connects the computer interface and the PLC network interface. Application is required, so that P
There is a problem that the maintainability of the LC is poor and the throughput at the time of access is reduced.

Further, the MAP communication unit of the host computer cannot directly access the master station or the local station of the PLC network. In other words, the MAP interface unit directly accesses the master station from the computer interface and accesses the master station. Since it is necessary to specify the station number for the station and access the application of the master station, there is also a problem that the programming of the MAP communication program in the host computer becomes complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to prevent a deterioration in the maintainability of a PLC which occurs as a result of requiring an application, and to suppress a decrease in throughput at the time of access. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a communication network device that avoids complicated programming of a MAP communication program in a host computer.

[0007]

A communication network device according to the present invention is a communication network device for accessing an FA device dedicated network using a dedicated protocol by a specific vendor from a MAP network.
The station number and control data in the dedicated network for FA equipment are used to identify the station number and the identifier for separating the station number and control data.
It is described in a unified format by Besshi .

[0008] Further, a computer for executing communication by MAP and a communication partner of the computer, and
A master FA device connected to a network, a MAP interface unit mounted on the master FA device, and a dedicated network for the FA device using a dedicated protocol by a specific vendor to which the master FA device is connected via the MAP interface unit And a local FA device connected to the FA device dedicated network, wherein the FA
The code and control data in the device private network, the station number
The identifier that represents the station number and the identifier that separates the control data
It is described in a unified format so that the computer can directly access the local FA device.

[0009] Further, a computer that executes communication by MAP and a communication partner of the computer,
A master FA device connected to a network, a MAP interface unit mounted on the master FA device, and a dedicated network for the FA device using a dedicated protocol by a specific vendor to which the master FA device is connected via the MAP interface unit And a local FA device connected to the FA device dedicated network, the computer comprising a MAP communication program in which a station number and control data in the FA device dedicated network are described in a unified format. For interface unit
An extended computer interface that includes a management table that separates and interprets the description of the unified format into station numbers and control data in the FA device dedicated network, and directly accesses the master FA device to the local FA device via the FA device dedicated network. It is provided with.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in a MAP communication program of a host computer, for example, a local station i of an FA device is used.
The variable V of # 01. Has an identifier "#" indicating a station number and an identifier "." For separating the station number and the variable name. V.
Also, in the variable management table inside the VMD of the MAP interface unit mounted on the master FA device, it is interpreted as being separated into the station number i and the variable name V, and the VMD is transmitted to the local device of the FA device via the extended computer interface of the master FA device. Access variable V of station i.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a MAP communication network device according to the present invention using a PLC as an example of an FA device. In the figure, 1a is a variable # 01. V, 2a are MAPs acting as clients requesting services
The communication programs A and 4 are a program management table for separating and interpreting the station number and the program name in the PLC dedicated network 16 from the unified program description.
A task execution management table 6 for separating and interpreting the station number in the dedicated network 16 and the name of the program to be executed. The task execution management table 6 separates the station number and the variable name in the PLC dedicated network 16 from the unified variable description. The variable management table 10a for interpreting the data is an extended computer interface that can directly access the PLC dedicated network 16.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, M of the host computer 3
Activate the AP communication program A2a (step S3
1). Second, the MAP communication program A2a uses the variable # 0
1. The reading of V1a is instructed to the VMD 7 of the MAP interface unit 9 of the PLC master station 11 (step S32). Third, the VMD 7 stores the variables # 01. V1a is separated and interpreted as the PLC local station i and the variable name V (step S33).
Fourth, the VMD 7 requests the PLC master station 11 to read the variable name “V” of the PLC local station i in the PLC dedicated network 16 via the PLC driver 8 (step S34). Fifth, the extended computer interface 10a of the PLC master station 11 reads the value of the variable V13 of the designated station number i via the directly connected PLC dedicated network interface 12, and transfers it to the MAP interface unit 9 (step S35). Sixth
VMD7 of the MAP interface unit 9 is PL
The value transferred from the C driver 8 is stored in a variable # 01. The data is transferred to the host computer 3 as V1a.

FIG. 2 describes the operation in the case of variable access.
For uploading, for example, # 01. Domai
n A is described in a unified manner as in A, and the program management table 4 describes the PLC station number i and the program name Domain.
A is interpreted separately and accessed.

Further, the control of the program to be executed is described in, for example, # 01. Program A is described in a unified manner as shown in FIG.
Station number i and execution target program name Program A is interpreted separately and accessed.

In this embodiment, the case where the PLC is used as the FA device has been described. However, the present invention can be applied not only to the PLC but also to a FA device such as a numerical controller or a robot.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, the host
In a computer MAP communication program, for example, PL
Variable V of C local station i, program Domain
A, Program to be executed A is the station number
ID that separates identifier “#”, station number and each name
The child "." V, # 01. Domai
n A or # 01. Program Described as A,
Unified description (in the same format)
Therefore, the complexity in creating a program is reduced.

The above unified description is based on the V of the MAP interface unit attached to the PLC master station.
According to the program management table, task execution management table, and variable management table inside the MD, the PLC station number i and the program name Domain A, execution target program name Pr
ogram A, interpreted separately as variable name V, VM
D is a program Dom of each of the PLC local stations i via the extended computer interface of the PLC master station.
ain A, Program to be executed A,
Access variable V. As a result, there is no need to access indirectly via the application of the PLC master station, so that the maintainability of the PLC is improved and the throughput at the time of access is also improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a MAP communication network device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the MAP communication network device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional MAP communication network device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the MAP communication network device shown in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

1a Variable # 01. V2a MAP
Communication program A 3 Host computer 4 Program management table 5 Task management table 6 Variable management table 7 VMD 8 PLC driver 9 MAP interface unit 10a Extended computer interface 11 PLC master station 12 PLC dedicated network interface 13 Variable V 14 PLC
Local station i 15 PLC Local station n 16 PLC
Dedicated network

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-64-37142 (JP, A) JP-A-63-136101 (JP, A) JP-A-63-45938 (JP, A) International publication 92/4676 (WO, A) ISA TRANSACTION VOLUME. 28, NUMBER. 4, 1989, "INTERGATION DC S / PLC SYSTEMS WITH MAP", F.M. J. ALLEGREZ ZA ET AL. PP. 43-46

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A communication network apparatus for accessing a dedicated network for FA equipment using a dedicated protocol by a specific vendor from a MAP network, wherein a station number and control data in the dedicated network for FA equipment are controlled by an identifier indicating a station number, a station number, and control. Knowledge to separate data
A communication network device characterized by being described in a unified format by an identifier. 2. A computer that executes communication by MAP, a master FA device that is a communication partner of the computer and is connected to a MAP network,
A MAP interface unit attached to the A device, a FA device dedicated network using a dedicated protocol by a specific vendor to which the master FA device is connected via the MAP interface unit;
In a communication network apparatus comprising a local FA device connected to a network dedicated to device A, a station number and control data in the network dedicated to FA device are separated by an identifier representing a station number and a code for separating the station number and control data.
A communication network device, which is described in a unified format by an identifier and can directly access the local FA device from the computer. 3. A computer that executes communication by MAP, a master FA device that is a communication partner of the computer and is connected to a MAP network,
A MAP interface unit attached to the A device, a FA device dedicated network using a dedicated protocol by a specific vendor to which the master FA device is connected via the MAP interface unit;
A communication network apparatus comprising a local FA device connected to a network dedicated to device A, a MAP in which a station number and control data in the network dedicated to FA device are described in a unified format in the computer.
A communication table, the MAP interface unit includes a management table for separating and interpreting a station number and control data in the FA device dedicated network from a description in a unified format, and the master FA device via the FA device dedicated network. A communication network device comprising an extended computer interface for directly accessing the local FA device.